Each social media platform has its perks, limitation and benefits. There are unspoken “do’s and don’ts” of each one and when you skip over a rule, your content can look out of place or unnatural! This is why most companies don’t post the same image to Twitter as they do for Instagram, Facebook etc. For example, you wouldn’t want to post a Pinterest DIY to Twitter; it would stick out like a sore thumb - and not in a good way. Being a “native” content creator has to do with the company's research behind the platform and an overall vibe of the company’s page in comparison to the rest of the platform. If a company has done research on the platform to see what type of elements do best, and of course follow these rules, they are considered “native” to that platform. A Frame’s here to save you the hassle of researching every single platforms yourself! We know it can be exhausting keeping up with all of the technological changes and trends. SO let’s just straight up tell you the “do’s and don’ts” of the most popular social media platforms. Instagram: Instagram is known as the story telling platform. It allows customers to see the personality behind your business and relate more to you as an individual rather than a company. Here are the most common posts on Instagram that are a sure to fit right in. Behind the Scenes- Post backstage looks at your business; for example, employee profiles, a day at work, an event your company was involved with, etc. Lifestyle Shots- Post a photo directed towards your target audience like a person climbing a mountain, riding a bike, shopping, etc. Quotes- Instagram is one of those platforms where quotes are encouraged. Find a nice background photo and add an inspirational quote relating to your business on top of it. You can even add your logo to create unique branded content. Product Shots- Instagram is a great place to showcase your products, but instead of focusing a photo on your product with a blank background, use a picture of someone using your product or enjoying your product. You will see a dramatic engagement rise. Facebook: Facebook is known for it’s complexity and variety of different elements. It was the first social media to take off, therefore it is a very diverse platform. However, there are certain posts that excel on Facebook. Quizzes and Trivia- Engaging content like personality quizzes, puzzles, charts, trivia, etc. are great for this platform. You can also post quizzes or fun facts about something relating to your product! Comics, Memes, and Quotes- These serve as another visual stimulant that will hook your audience and make them more likely to share your content. Links to Articles- Articles that relate to your business model are a great way to inform your audience while also making yourself known in the community. Tumblr: Tumblr is another visual platform but also allows for some diverse content. The platform is essentially another website for your product, so add elements that best relate to your business. Here are some go-to elements that are most seen on Tumblr. GIF- Using something animated is sure to draw the attention of your audience and keep them coming back. Visual Headers- Tumblr is a very visually stimulated platform as well, so using visual headers or images will fit right in. Tumblr is filled with the artsy crowd, so you can never go wrong with an animated gif or bizarre and abstract posts! Twitter: Twitter uses a variety of different media across the platform but it is mostly text based. Images and adds will add to the visual content but also a post with ironic or funny text will do just fine on Twitter. Photos: On Twitter you can get away with using similar photos as you would use on Instagram but with more thought out captions or text. Videos: It is a little more widely accepted to use video content then on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest. That being said make sure your video evokes some sort of emotion and it is not just “artsy” Twitter is more for the ironic and humorous crowd. Try to use as many hashtags and ironic lines as possible! Pinterest:
Pinterest gets a bad rep for just being for old grandmothers and their knitting hobbies but it is actually a very good platform for businesses. Some brands don’t necessarily fit with the Pinterest vibe, for example an electrical company, but you can also give it a try! Graphics- If you have an element of your business that you want to express through a colorful flowchart or diagram, Pinterest is just the place to do that! DIY- If it applies to your company, DIY or How To’s are mostly what Pinterest is made for. So get out there and show the crowd so do it yourself ideas.
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Photo editing is a big part of social media content creation, however, it can be hard to find that perfect editing app for you. A lot of people think that photo editing is tedious and takes way too long, while others think that using a phone app makes the photo look cheesy, to those people I say “Enough!” Do not knock the essence of photo editing without giving it a fair try. Whether you are brand new to photo editing (just wanting to throw a picture in a program and have it spit back out something more high quality), or if you are like me and like to control every enhancement made, there is definitely an app for you out there. From easiest, quickest, and most user-friendly, to gradually increasing difficulty and control, here are our 4 favorite free photo editing apps on the market. Fotor Fotor is a highly user-friendly photo editing app that focuses mainly on automated options that can be used quickly and with little to no hassle. Along with its photo editor, Fotor also comes with a collage and discover section for added inspiration. This app is great for beginner photo editors but I would definitely recommend learning the other apps mentioned once you feel like you have Fotor mastered. PicsArt PicsArt is a very unique photo editing app that allows for more abstract edits rather than just photo enhancements. It can make very cool edits, similar to photoshop but this app is a lot more user friendly. However, PicsArt is can certainly turn into one of those preteen, popart, overly filtered photos so just be careful when using it for Instagram content. VSCO VSCO Cam is one of the most popular, if not the most popular photo editing app for Instagram and it certainly lives up to it’s hype. My favorite feature in this app is the ability to download additional filter packs. Some are free, others cost only a few dollars, but you will certainly find a pack that matches your mood. Along with the filters, VSCO has a very comprehensive slide edit features for edits like contrast, temperature, vignette etc. SnapSeed Snapseed is by far our favorite free photo editing app and if you give it the time, we guarantee it will be yours too. This one is last on the list because it does require a small learning curve to understand all the different elements of the app. That being said, it has the most control out of all of these. If you are looking for a professional finish just the way you envisioned, this is the app for you. It gives you the control that you need while still making professional adjustments based on the app’s programing. ** DISCLAIMER
A Frame is not paid to endorse any of these apps and all information present is solely based on personal experience and personal preference. Are you worried your feed is just not up to par with the latest cutthroat Instagram trend? Instagram is all about aesthetic so it can be a little overwhelming when you don’t see your follower number increase each morning. Let’s throw out the OVERWHELM! Here are a few things you can do RIGHT NOW to enhance your photos and start killing the Instagram game! Create A Mood Board- To start, try brainstorming what you want you want people to feel when they open your Instagram. Do you want them to feel inspired? Relaxed? Excited? Make a list of all the adjectives that describe you and or your company to start your key buzz words. If you are posting pictures of your son huddled in a blanket by the fire, and then next day, a man climbing Mount Everest, your followers will get confused. Once you have a general idea what emotion or feeling you want to evoke in your audience, it is time to pick colors! Research the colors associated with your emotion to find the perfect color scheme. For example, if I owned a Spa shop and wanted my followers to feel calm and serene when they looked at my instagram, I would most likely use colors such as lavender or pale grey to project the feeling of relaxation. Use 2-3 complementing colors along with 2-3 neutral colors or shades, to avoid turning your instagram into a rainbow (unless that is what you are going for). After you have your buzz words and colors it is time to make the mood board! A mood board doesn’t necessarily have to use your own photos, but it will certainly help you get a good idea of your business aesthetic. Make a folder of around 8-16 different photos that capture the essence of your brand and line them up side by side. Here are a few great examples of AWESOME mood boards: Quick Tips: Use A Consistent Filter- Photo editing is a very important piece of enhancing your visuals. On Instagram, it’s important to make sure you are editing all of your photos to have the same vibe. As we talked about before, the mood of your pictures mostly comes from the coloring of the photo, which is done through filters and tone adjustments. Many apps come with preset filters, but make sure the filter is a color that matches your mood board. A much better way to ensure that your photo comes out with the right mood is to adjust the tone and highlight with different color effects. Here at A Frame, we love using VSCOcam because you can also adjust the temperature, the highlight and the color preferences, in addition to great auto filters. Check out our post on our favorite photo editing apps HERE. Preview Your Feed- Apps such as UNUM, Planoly, Instagrid, etc. allow you to preview your feed before it is posted to instagram. This gives you a general idea if it is going to match that mood board we made before. Essential! Keep Shape Consistent- The new Instagram update allows you to post photo’s that are not square which is great, but make sure that your keep one consistent shape, or strategically place your non-square photos. Create An Editorial Calendar- Planning Instagarm content out in advance is a sure way to make your feed 100 times better. Using apps such as Later, Buffer, Publish and OnlyPult let you schedule your Instagram post and preview your feed in advance. Ready to Try It? What do you think? What are your biggest frustrations with your Instagram feed? Feel free to leave a comment to let us know YOUR tips on how to make your Instagram feed GOALS. |
- Kaitlyn Dunn -